Support & Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Q: How do I use cmdgui?
A: Run cmdgui.exe and pass it a .gui file, either by drag-and-drop onto the executable, via command line, or by associating .gui files with cmdgui.exe. The tool will display a dialog based on the markup in your .gui file.

Q: Do I need to know programming to create .gui files?
A: No. .gui files use a simple markup language. If you can read a command's /h or /? help output, you can create a .gui file. Just add markup tags like {{required text}} or {{file}} to describe input types.

Creating .gui Files

Q: My command has many options. How do I organize them?
A: The order in your .gui file is the order arguments appear on the command line. Put required positional arguments first, then optional flags. Required fields automatically appear at the top of the dialog regardless of where they are in the file.

Q: How do I make a file or folder browser?
A: Use {{file}}, {{dir}}, or {{filedir}} for the input type. cmdgui automatically adds a Browse button. Use {{newfile}} or {{newdir}} if the path shouldn't exist yet.

Q: Can I have mutually exclusive options?
A: Yes, use radio button groups. Wrap options between {{radiostart}} and {{radioend}} tags. Only one option from the group can be selected at a time.

Q: Can I make something like a menu?
A: Use {{button flag}} syntax. When any action buttons are present, the normal Run button is hidden. Each button executes the command with its specific flag plus any other checked options.

Advanced Usage

Q: Can I generate .gui files dynamically?
A: Yes, use {{batch gui}} at the top of your file. Everything after it is executed as a batch script, and the output becomes the .gui markup. This is perfect for commands where options change (like listing running processes or available drives).

Q: Can I embed a batch script instead of calling a single executable?
A: Yes, use {{batch cmd}} in your markup. Everything after it becomes a batch script that receives the GUI selections as command-line parameters.

Technical Questions

Q: Does cmdgui modify the registry or install system files?
A: No. cmdgui is completely portable. It only reads .gui files and executes commands. All files stay in the folder where you extracted cmdgui.

Q: Can I use cmdgui with PowerShell commands?
A: Yes. On line 1 of your .gui file, use "powershell -Command YourCommand" or create a .ps1 script and call it via powershell -File.

Q: What Windows versions are supported?
A: cmdgui works on Windows XP through Windows 11. No special dependencies or DLLs are required.

Still Need Help?

For additional support, please check the user manual for detailed documentation and examples.